A homeowner reportedly fired several shots at a group of young people who had played a prank by knocking on his door and quickly leaving, according to authorities.
Yarvis Godfrey, 33, was taken into custody on a Sunday in Greene Township, a suburb of Cincinnati, for allegedly shooting at a car belonging to the pranksters as it sped away. The details were shared by WXIX.
Police later discovered a semi-automatic handgun, cartridges, and a green laser in Godfrey’s residence, as mentioned in an affidavit.
Records indicate that bullet holes were found in the trunk of the kids’ black Kia Rio, as well as in the siding of two nearby homes, with a .45 caliber shell casing located in the street outside Godfrey’s home.
Fortunately, none of the youths were hurt during the incident.
The four boys, when questioned by the police, said they went to the house to “ding-dong ditch,” knocked on the door, and then jumped in their car to leave.
Afterward, they turned into a nearby cul-de-sac, then drove back down the street, passing by Godfrey’s home again.
At that moment, they noticed a man standing near the road holding a gun with a green laser on it, who then fired several shots at their vehicle, according to court documents.
The boys fled into another cul-de-sac, and Godfrey pursued them but was confronted by police when they arrived on the scene.
As mentioned in court records, Godfrey faces a felony charge for unlawfully discharging a firearm in or into a secure area, as well as two counts for firing a weapon near prohibited premises.
This event adds to a troubling trend of violent incidents linked to “ding dong ditch” pranks, which have gained popularity on social media in recent years.
This past January, a homeowner in North Carolina was arrested after allegedly fatally shooting a boy participating in a similar prank at his home.
Craig Steven Mason told investigators he shot at a vehicle with its headlights off that passed in front of his Statesville residence after waking to noises from someone banging on a neighbor’s door.
In September, a Texas man was charged with killing an 11-year-old boy who also rang a doorbell in connection with a “Ding Dong Ditch” prank at his Houston home.
